Sexual assaults: More to learn

Updated 10:08 pm, Monday, April 28, 2014

A hotline case advocate at the Houston Area Women's Center takes phone calls dealing with women looking to get out of a domestic violence or sexual abuse situation. (Johnny Hanson/Chronicle)

A hotline case advocate at the Houston Area Women's Center takes phone calls dealing with women looking to get out of a domestic violence or sexual abuse situation. (Johnny Hanson/Chronicle)

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Staff

Sexual assaults: More to learn

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One in five Texas women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime - as will one in 20 Texas men. Many people do not realize how prevalent sexual assault is, because rape is the most under-reported crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, only 46 percent of rapes are ever reported to the police and only 3 percent of rapists ever spend a day in jail.

A study to be published this June in the journal "Gender & Society," finds that girls and young women often will not report incidents of abuse because they view sexual violence against them as normal.

The researcher identified several overarching reasons that deterred participants from reporting their assault: acceptance of the myth that men cannot control their sexual desires, which caused harassment and abuse to be perceived as normal male behavior; not wanting to make a "big deal" about their experience because they were unsure if it qualified as assault; assuming authority figures would believe they, not the perpetrator, prompted or were to blame for the assault; and, fear of not being believed or supported by their peers.

These fears and uncertainties are common due to prevailing attitudes and beliefs about sex and consent. Our society teaches boys that their worth is determined by their ability to dominate others and dismisses sexual aggression as simply "boys being boys."

On the other hand, popular culture bombards girls with messages that define them as objects of sexual desire. Sexual harassment is normalized and accepted through these standards to the point that survivors are often unsure if something violating their bodily consent "counts" as assault.

When survivors do not know if their experience counts as assault, they fear they will be viewed as overreacting if they come forward. When they do recognize they have been assaulted, they fear no one will believe them. With 75 percent of sexual assaults committed by someone the victim knows, mutual friends and family members often find it more comfortable to deny or minimize an assault than accept that someone they know and love could have done such a thing. This feeds the problem. Instead of denying or questioning a survivor's experience, we need to validate it by telling them, "You are not alone. I believe you."

Many sexual assault survivors who have sought support from the Houston Area Women's Center have said that the first time they heard that their assault was not their fault was when they walked through our doors.

Sexual assault is a crime that has been committed against someone, it is never something a short skirt or number of drinks has ever consented to. When a survivor does seek support from friends, family or community leaders, they often experience secondary victimization from questions laden with blame, such as, "What were you wearing?" Or "Why were you out so late?" Instead, we need to help provide empowerment by reminding survivors, "It is not your fault. You did nothing to deserve this."

We have come a long way since the Houston Area Women's Center first opened our doors in the late 1970s, when far too many sexual assaults were not even deemed to be crimes. However, there is still much work to be done. You can help assure survivors are supported by ensuring our community leaders are equipped to appropriately respond.

Ask your doctor, your religious adviser, or your school nurse's office if they have received training on how to respond to someone who has been sexually assaulted. Encourage them to call and schedule a training at the Houston Area Women's Center (713-528-6798). The trainings are provided free of charge and not only work with individuals, but also with medical professionals, law enforcement, clergy and other community leaders to provide education on how to respond to and advocate for sexual assault survivors. In addition to training and education services, the Houston Area Women's Center provides a 24-hour crisis hotline (713-528-7273), confidential counseling and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

If you know someone who has experienced sexual assault, validate their experience, support them and let them know that "help is only a phone call away."

Sonia Corrales is chief program officer at the Houston Area Women's Center and member of Houston's Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce.